The area in which we live here in Northern California was one of Mark Twain’s favorite stomping grounds. There is a cabin near by in which he spent a winter. His short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, was written about a town ten minutes from us. One of my favorite axioms of the old winsome wit is, “I have been through some terrible things in life, some of which actually happened.”
Following the crucifixion of our Lord, some ladies prepared spices and ointments for His body. They had rested on the Sabbath, but very early in the morning on the first day of the week they made their way toward the tomb. One of their concerns was who would roll away the great stone from the door of the sepulcher. But their worry was all in vain; the Lord had already taken care of it. When they arrived “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.”
The spices and ointment they so lovingly prepared were as useless as their anxiety about the removal of the stone. How human they were, how like us! How we too worry about things the Lord has already taken care of. The angel gently reproves them for their short memories: “He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said.” Whenever we worry, we can be sure we have forgotten His Word with the promises within. In the face of insurmountable odds, they were expected to believe His Word; and so are we!
My grandson, Joseph, is lead singer for the Southern Gospel group, The Perrys. He wrote a song entitled, “He’s Already There.” The women at the tomb would say, “Amen!” to that.
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